Quiet Lives: The Women of Centro Maria by Mariliana Arvelo

Around the world women live very different lives. Many try to balance work and family, while others devote themselves to a singular calling. When Venezuelan photographer Mariliana Arvelo came to New York in 2002, she stayed at the Centro Maria, a residence for young women run by Catholic nuns from Spain and Latin America. Slowly she got to know them and began photographing them. Here are some of her images and thoughts on the project.

"Centro Maria", New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

“Centro Maria”, New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

My first reaction was to the contrast between the residence and its chaotic environs in the area of midtown Manhattan known as Hell’s Kitchen. I was planning to stay just a few weeks while I looked for an apartment, but this changed as I got to know the nuns who lived and worked there.”

"Centro Maria", New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

“Centro Maria”, New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

“These nuns are full of stories, but are generally very closed with respect to their private lives. They work all day cooking, cleaning, fixing things, doing laundry, and praying. At first the nuns weren’t willing to let me photograph them. They didn’t understand why I would want to take their pictures.”

"Centro Maria", New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

“Centro Maria”, New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

“But after living there a few months and building closer relationships with them, gradually I was able to take more and more photos. The focus of the project was to take the portraits in key spaces of the house, places where they were most, or places over which they felt a sense of ownership.”

"Centro Maria", New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

“Centro Maria”, New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

Mariliana Arvelo is a Venezuelan photographer based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of the New England School of Photography, and her work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including the Art Forum program from the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University; the New England Photography Biennial at the Danforth Museum of Art; the Photographic Resource Center exhibition DOCUMENT (Boston); the ARC Gallery (Chicago), and the Soho Photo Gallery (New York).

"Centro Maria", New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

“Centro Maria”, New York, NY 2013 © Mariliana Arvelo

Arvelo has published work in the the Christian Science Monitor newspaper, the magazine ReVista, Harvard Review of Latin America, and the Annual International Photography Awards Book No.6.

© Mariliana Arvelo

© Mariliana Arvelo

She is also the owner of a successful photography business called Stylish & Hip Kids Photography, and for the past five years has led the photography program for seniors at The Hope Gardens Senior Center in New York City. She has served as an artist in residence at The Creative Center at University Settlement, teaching cancer survivors, and in 2013, taught children’s workshops in Calcutta, India.

© Mariliana Arvelo

© Mariliana Arvelo

– Catherine Kirkpatrick

 

 

 

 

6 thoughts on “Quiet Lives: The Women of Centro Maria by Mariliana Arvelo

  1. diane drescher

    this is beautiful. i love the way the photos capture the sisters in their space. There is a sense of their singularity and yet they are contained and content . I am going to share this with my friend who is the director of the Cabrini Shrine in Northern Manhattan.

    Reply
  2. Francoise Jeanpierre

    Fascinating how the senses of place and one’s presence in it is so strong and presented so simply.

    Reply
  3. Margit

    Love the No.6 photo the most. The person is coming through a green light of hope to reach the ultimate piece with oneself.

    Reply
  4. Sandra

    Congratulations on your photography at Centro Maria. It says everything that they let you photograph them. Beautifully captured. I would love to hear more about the children’s workshops in Calcutta if you have a moment. I was there in 2014.
    Sincerely,
    Sandra

    Reply

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